Method and apparatus for cleaning gravel or the like



June 30,1931. 5, BEBOUT 1,812.280

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAVEL on THE LIKE 4. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15. 1928 Q. N s u 7 5 V JV 4 x w v i I. I o

June 30, 1 931. G. B. BEBOUT .METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAVEL on THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1928' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Suvcufor I Gttorney June 30, 1931. s. B. BEBOUT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAVEL OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Nov. 15. 1928 I ISnventor 860%.

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Gttorncg June 30, 1931. 1,812,280 METHOD AND APPA ATUS FOR CLEANING GRAVEL on THE LIKE B. BEBOUT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 15, 1928 Gttomeg "(3) APP r -u' V w?" e1 or log'wa s her throughwhioh the materiel ispassed'andihtowhi ch water is admitted-in clear water a suifioient pe-riod to remove 1112* objectionable particlegend' also at sufii'c'ient angle relatively:poor produoh 1 Patented June 30,1931

i- B Q-UTL F zmsmm; 011109 METHODANDI 4 m 1501;; cLEenIiwG GRA EL 03 13331312 d Thisinvehtion relates to'e method and e'p- I ,Paratu' 01 t rialls for oncrete such asgravel, brokensstone-or th f f ke.. h. a o I V- ;5 Inorder thatfi ly infiel itlon liei 'cl' ea rly -understood, will poifnt; 'outend'describe generally several I methods "and devices now commonly employed for washing; materials of the"above-"character;kind then' p oihtout 1 wherein my invention differs and obtains re} lSite'rial's 01* the like and} generally gde- Apparatus fhmdtefial ClOWIlWL'IdiiPOII aohute orflunieanda; strong 'spray of Water is'directedmponthe material;

drum or the like wherein the meteriail' is eg ittedfih the prsencejof a strongi spmybf water;

lorge'quantities ahd"underpressure. V 'The methods irefer redgto' depend upon agitation of; the materialin J Water "for :the

lCI'GHiOVfil of siltfar ld stain; anddepnd upon alarge quantity of lwaterlbeingemployed for separating and ca x ying off all objectionable materials, such as coal; StIioks, leaves ete. Thesef methods usually operate inefficiently for the purpose "intended tho fi is, the :st ai n and si lt lis not thoroughlfjrlfemoved erfdqthe coal, s't-icks, eto. are; not} entirely sepaireted from the he'aiviergperticlesj beingretrieveda-x' 'sefibed a'ge expensiye to fma nufgieture we qulre 'aJ'conelderable amoi'mt of-powento opterial' that'ca'n. be ihandledby each maohifne is relatively smalh Theme-chines frequently require "repair" andfremainidle a considerable timeforsuchrepair; All these'disadvent ages,

' result iiniii-relatively .high opemtingoost v :F ig. 3 is a perspeeblvemew of a mod-i-fijed ltiinay alsob'e here noted' that coal waehereQ j'i gs,: vanningv'maehines jaild' riflie; boafds as 'Th'efmaehines and; devioesheretofore "de- "apparatus shown in Fig.1;

known to mam are hot, soitz ihlle for Wishing I aggregate materials of the: oharaetel: "heretoiffore defined; f o

:, The prime purpose of this ihvenltiorii is;

' provide 3yl116th0d and: apparetus whereby '65 .meterialslof bhefgeneral character refelfred,

vto can be rapidly end thotoughly cleenediat e -relatively lOWXCOSta o V V Othef objecrts ,"and; objects relating to (1e Y tails of construction, combination and er- 1 mngement of partslwill hereinafter appear in thedetailed descriptiohtofollow.

carrymg out: my lnvention I provide a sumable zqopa ratuso wherieby small batches; 01'

emountsoi materiel may be individually slib- F I Jected to a eleansmg ppooess in, era-pie! and I terial for-an,short;'interval oftime[to freely f 'flowingiolea r wa tepin order to. Cause lighter 'partloles such as $1113, sucks, leavesycoel, etc. toi sepaa'agte'sl from 'c'he material and ttaflel Thematerial is subjected to the free flow of periodqto' thoroughly rinse-the, heavier: peripperatusjpermits time fomthekoleansed ma teri'al vto" dry; and or when the. material, is discharged from tli'eappamtus 'itinma" thoroughly cleansedandjmarketablecondf tion; I

The present inventiooisillustmted wa y H of exampleq in the accompanying drawings, 1 'inuw'hioh-w-" I a V Fig. leis a perspective View of an appa- .ratus Jby 5'whiohlmy inventibnm'ey be l p'raic- 5 .1 Fig. 2' is 5 a: vertical longitudinal sedtional iew Jtaken' Subst an tially on line of Fig; Qa-iS adeta-ilview showing a; modi- '9 fled-form ofjab water seal employeddnthe f I .Eform of "apparatus, by: invent aiop me Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another modified form of an apparatus whereby my invention may be practiced.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line T'? of 6.

8 is a erspective view showing a still further modi form by which my invention may be practiced.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional. view taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 10 indicates, generally, a supporting frame and 11 suitable pedestals secured to said frame. The pedestals or legs 11 may be four in number and each terminates at its upper end in a suitable l'iearing 12-. The bearings 12' may serve for ournaling a pair of shafts 12. Each shaft 12 may have suitably secured thereto a pair of sprocket wheels 13, and about these sprocket wheels there may be trained a pair of sprocket chains 14. Sue of the shafts 12 may carry a suitable pinion 15 which may be driven through a worm gear 16 carried by a power shaft 17.

The sprocket chains 1d have secured. thereto a plurality of troughs 18, each of which has its one end closed as at 19, while its other end is open as shown. These troughs are disposed transversely to the direction of travel of the sprocket chains. At the open ends of the troughs there may be arranged a suitable drain as indicated at 20 and this drain may be connected with a suitable drain pipe as at 21. The bottom portion of each trough, adjacent its closed end, is perforated as indicated at 22, and beneath the perforated portion of each trough there is provided auxiliary bottom 23, which forms a chamber as shown. Each chamber communicates with a pipe 24 which extends upwardly to the upper and rearward edge of the associated trough. The troughs are so mounted that when disposed horizontally they abut each other in close relation and between adjacent troughs there maybe provided a suitable rul ber strip or the like as indicated at in order to provide a seal against the passage of water between the abutting edges of said troughs.

Each trough is further provided, adjacent each end thereof, with a pair of water seal ing flanges 26. The associated ends of th flanges 26 are, in each instance, connected by an end wall as shown. These end waiis are of such a height that they 'flush ith the underside of the end por 0i headers when flanges 26 pass through said headers. Each pair of flanges has associated therewith a header generally indicated at 2?. Each header comprises a hollow casting corresponding in width to the distance between a pair of sealing flanges 26 carried by the troughs. The bottom of each casting is open and its lower edges are provided with 013- posing inwardly turned flanges which cooperate with the sealing flanges 26 of the troughs for forming a water seal (Fig. 2a). Suitable grease cups 30 .may be provided to afford the necessary lubrication for the seals occurring between the header 27 and sealing flanges 26. Each header is connected with a suitable water supply pipe 28 and each pipe 28 may be provided with a suitable regulating valve as shown. Also, each water pipe has extended therefrom an auxiliary water supply pipe 29 which may be provided with a valve as shown. The auxiliary supply pipes 29 are directed so that water flowing therefrom will be sprayed upon material deposited in the troughs 18.

A suitable feed chute 31 should beso positioned that material can. be deposited upon the perforated portion of the bottom of each trough 18. Suitable means not shown, may be provided to regulate the flow of material from thechute 31 into the troughs 18. The power shaft 17 should be rotated to move the troughs in aclockwise direction, and at one end of the apparatus there should be pro vided a suitable chute 33 into which the washed material may be deposited and carried to a suitable storage place.

In the use of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and2 and heretofore described, the power is a 3 DllBCl so that the trou hs may move in a clockwise direction at a relatively slow rate of speed, and the material is deposited in said troughs from the chute 31 as they move therebeneath. Water is admitted to the headers 27 and as the sealing flanges 26 of the troughs 18 move into the headers 27, water flows downwardly through the pipes 24 and into. the space beneath the troughs provided by the bottoms 23. The water on tering beneath the troughs will flow upwardly through the gravel or material deposited in the troughs. Also, water can be admitted from the pipes 29 into said troughs. The upward flow of the water through the material, together with the water provided by the pipes 29, establishes a free flow of water toward the open ends of the troughs. The movement of the water upwardly through the material separates the lighter particles therefrom and also cleanses the material. The

lighter particles, together with the silt reterns of vthe' vtroughs bj'u'ejup wai'dly 'thyough the mat erialQ The water-afior dedby 'thls entrance to the trqughs, -'together with the Water admitted from fihefpi pesr29; is; Suf

" 27"t-w0 or more wilyha'ire water admitted "fihereto frdm said. headers; After the troughs".

, havem0ized beyond the he'ad'ei's there is a the material is substantially dry and "clean;

, It i's 'o f."@zofirsgijundeftodd thiit" the ap- 'paratuemay bemadeany lengthdesired in order t O'i-hsure theflt'he material will have 1 I v 7 associated aheade'r 50 'whicih-is in the form, V

sufiicient time f0)" drainage after the" Water the'headers 27, 4 ,"It 'shouId- @150 1 be pass beneathth heade s 27; the material 'in Said troughs is,-bei-I-1 g subjected to" hat my be termed a; tinsing'lbree'sS-that;is may,

" in the bfbttoms of the" firoligihs- 1 8 is the) most efleetive' for wasfii' the 'rrrateriaLas; compared tdthe water. aclmitteclffiorsaid troughs from the pipes 329-, *''The Wa uer admisted"t0 1 40 the troughs: from "Ithe' pipes- 29- 'ajssits' the washing 'of" thefmfiiteri'al" that such additional flow of W'at'ef furnishes force anidvel um eto help'jbf'edk n p-and seatterbhe matey-m1 more effective.

, slightly modified fo rm ofwat SBQJLWh-iCh v may beused inConnection-Withthe headers ancf the; trQughs 18; 11 1. this medified eon- Referring to- Fig. 0- modifiled form Of apparatus comprises suitablepedestals 40, which 'terminate iatjftheir upper ehdSinSfiitable b arings adapted to port; thrO-ugh suitable 'm'enibiers e;

being ceneent rie" tol the shat-5 4:1 and-Tlmviri -Adjzpcent (opposite ends of the" troughs of a hollow ce cin gr having an open bottom,

' fio tedi 'fhe" lqttelifpart pf thefpeliod'whe n the-troughs "chute'57imaybeprevided wherebyfihe mafiej e I "uppermost-blfoughs'as the Same-are: beneath The; devic'egshown in Figs. "3 3.11 14 @511 heretefere described 7 operates 13.13011 th -p1fincip1e as thatshownin Fig-e. andQ Iii troughs43,7Whi1efsziidgtroughs are slowly ro- I -fcated. -WatefentersUpwardly; through thei g" f -tr6ughs from the -headersfiO la n'dv also Water? isfadmitted tosaid'treughs'fronithepipe'50.i,'

ef the di eiwin'gs the formel ihtegrally therewith; g plurality ef bladesjza d apted t o for x'1 .,a numberz of troughs 43. These troughsextend'fsubstam l",

tially the-entire lengthfolf theshaft as shown; T and eaeh'tro'ugh'is providedwitha partition 43 1561' the purpose0fproviding a longitw dina-l cOmpartment L- I. Each dlivisienw'allj 43 has one end portioni thereof pefferated as" ,indicatedet m 0116 end of eaeht'i'oug h-i v is'pro' vided with 2 Closure as show nab 46.

there is: secured What'may be termed aseal} ing ring 47; Eachzsea'ling ringj'ij is pro} 'vid ed with a plurality ofopenings '8' one for each of the troughs 43.2 "Each Opening 48 communicates.Withqa pipew Which-ex tends to theeqnip artment 0f the associated. I trough; \Vithieaeh zsealing iringffiqthei'eis' j said bottombeing provided 1 with suitable flahgecl edges-as indieatediat 51;:WhiC haale, V adapted-t0 cooperatef-with-the rings- 47am gprovide a-wate ise'all Alsofeach header 50 ,may :be provided with a' suitable number of greage cups 5'2 to; 'pel filit lubrication the V sealing rings 'flandesaid headers' 50; "r-Ea'eh header '50 is Suitably connected Witha watelflk] supplyp pt; 53 ahd eachjpipe 53;.ma be m Vi'd'ed with a control Valve as shown; n; I;

--' The tl eughs maylbe iroteted through i'l-nedium ofca rack ge'z'ai'. 5-5driven-from a pi ty ion' 56 csirnied b'y apowershziftas"Shown; PA TiaI tO-be cleaned ma he depesited the chute 571wiphh mtatiomtheme-3 Waterentei'ifig through the perforations the T froughs ,b uOy-s the material upwardlyshown a drum generally indicated by the ref erence numeral which may be supported at each end by a riding ring 61. These riding rings may be supported to permit rotation of the drum in any conventional and desired manner. The drum at one end may carry a rack 62 which may be engaged by a pinion 63 carried on one end of a suitable power shaft 64. Vithin the drum there is mounted a number of spiral-sh aped vanes 65. in the present case I have shown four such vanes, which are secured to the inner periphery of the drum 60 and so arranged at the feed end of the drum that a chute 66 maybe used to deposit a batch of material into each trough provided by the vanes with each complete rotation of the drum. For each convolution of a vane the drum is provided with a slot such as indicated at 67. Such slots are provided for each of the vanes. and the slots for each vane are aligned longitudinally of the drum.

Along one side of the drum there is arranged a water supply pipe 68 which may be provided with a control valve 69 and which has a plurality of outlets 70 arranged to register with the different slots 67 as the drum is rotated. There is also provided a water supply pipe 71 which extends centrally and longi-- tudinally of the drum 60 and is provided with a suitable regulating valve as shown. This pipe is preferably provided with two sets of orifices arranged longitudinally there of as illustrated to advantage in Figs. 6 and 7. Beneath the drum there may be arranged a trough 72 for the purpose of carrying off water and refuse and at one end of the drum there is arranged a suitable material discharge chute 7 3.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, and heretofore described, the drum 60 is rotated at a. suitable speed and gravel or other material fed into the different troughs or grooves provided by the vanes 65 from the chute 66. Referring to Fig. 7 if the drum is rotated in the direction of the arrow 74 the gravel will slide in the groove provided by the vane 65 and maintain the position shown. As the gravel comes into register with a slot 67, water will flow upwardly and the gravel and the silt will be washed therefrom. The water will flow forwardly through the gravel and push the silt and other lighter particles ahead thereof and discharge the same through the succeeding slot 67 when said slot reaches a position illustrated in Fig. 7. The refuse passing from the slots 67 flows into the drain 72. It should be noted thatthe gravel or other material will always maintain the position illustrated in Fig. 7 and will not escape through the slots 67. It will also be noted that adjacent the discharge end of the drum 60 no water is admitted through the slots 67 N and thereby the material is given time to drain before being discharged into the chute 73.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the apparatus shown comprises a casing generally indicated by the reference character 7 6, which may be open at its top as shown. Within the casing there may be suitably supported a pair of shafts 77, one adjacent each end thereof. Each shaft may carry a pair of sprocket wheels 78 and about these sprocket wheels there is trained a pair of sprocket chains 79, which have secured thereto a multiplicity of blades 80. The blades 80 extend the entire width of the casing 76 and when moving over the bottom of the casing provide troughs 81.

One side of the casing or housing 76 is cut away as at 82 and consequently the troughs 81 formed by the blades 80 with the bottom of the casing are open at one end. Adjacent the closed end of the troughs the bottom is provided with a perforated section 84 which communicates with a compartment 85 formed there-beneath, preferably as shown. This compartment has extended therein a pipe 87 which terminates within the compartment in a plurality of nozzles 88. The pipe 87 may be connected to a suitable water supply and provided with a valve as shown for controlling the flow of water into the compartment 85. Also, a water supply pipe 89 may be arranged within the casing and provided with nozzles 90 for admitting water into the troughs 81. The pipe 89 may have a suitable control valve as shown.

At a point above the casing 76 there is arranged a feed chute 91 whereby material may be discharged into the troughs 81 formed by the blades 80 when passing over the bottom of the casing 76. A supplemental chute 92 may be provided to insure that the material will be discharged into the troughs 81. The casing 76 may also be provided with a recess 98 at its one end to permit the washed material to be discharged into a suitable chute 94:.

One of the shafts 77 maycarry a drive sprocket 95 about which there may be trained a suitable sprocket chain 96 which may be driven from a suitable source of power.

In operating the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the material is discharged into the troughs 81 provided by the blades 80 and as the material passes over the perforated section 8 1 water passes upwardly therethrough. Also, water is admitted from the pipe 89 to the troughs 81. The water passing upwardly 7 through the material, together with the water admitted from pipe 89 cleanses the material and separates the lighter particles from the heavier in the same manner as described for the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2-that is, the silt removed from the material together with the lighter particles. such as leaves, etc, is pushed forward from the heavier particles and permitted to discharge from the open ends of the troughs. lVhen the ma- I pended claims.

terial passes beyond the perforated section 84 'of'the bottom of the casing 76 thesame is permitted to drain prior to the timeit is discharged into the chute 94. The bottomf;

the casing 76may besuitably perforated substantially its 7 entire length to facilitate the draining of, the material after passing the-t.v perforated bottom portion 84. While I have:

described the structural detailso'fthe different'forms ofapparatusby whichmy invenp raga-ts dumping p tion may be practiced, I'do not intend to so limit, my invention as indicated by the ap- Iclaim: 1

1. A method for washing and cleansing gravel or the likewhich 'comprises'separat ing the gravel into relatively small batches, maintaining the batches of gravel in a set-- tied and unagitated state, causing water at relatively low pressure .to flow upwardly through'each batch of gravel and at the same time permitting the water rising through the gravel to flow freely away therefrom whereby all objectionable matter i'washed from'thegravel, together with all light particlessep arated therefrom by the water will be pushed: away from the gravel by the Waterjwhen' flowing in its last mentioned course.

' 2. A method fortwashingand cleansing gravel or the like which comprisesiseparah ing the gravel into relatively small batches, "maintaining the batches of gravel in aQsettied and unagitated state causing waterat relatively low pressure to, flow upwardly l to through each batch of-vgravel and also downwardly thereom an d at the same timepermitting the water rising through the gravel,- as I well as the-water flowing downwardly thereon toflow freely away from'thegravelwhereby all objectionable m'atterqwa's'hed fromthe' gravel together with light/particles separated therefrom will be pushed away" from the last mentioned course'f-r v r I 3. In a material washing apparatus of,

the character described, afplurality of matefrial receiving troughs each having its one end open and aportion of its bottom ad a-' cent its closed end perforated,means wherebythe troughs may be supported in" a hori,

Zontal plane and moved from a materialreceivingposit on to a dumping position,

means wherebya batch of material may be deposited in each tr'ough upon said perfo- I rated portion when the trough is brought to its receiving position, and means whereby water may be caused to flow freely upwardly f through each batch 'ofmateri'al while said troughs are movingfrom receiving position to dumping position;

4. In a material washing apparatus-of the I character described, ajplurazlity of material I receiving troughs each having its one end" open and a portionjof itsbottonr adj acent its closed end perforated, means whereby a the portion-when the the ibatchmfqmaterial in materia 'il rei s s!b s twa ts: ece tir a and -;1neans'j. -for caus ng; water ,tojfiow Iup- .position. i I I ,7 v

6. Almateriali-washing apparatus of the H character described comprising a rotary drurnrhaving trough-like receptacles eX-j 1 tending longitudinally thereof with one end open "and the bottom pf each trough per-vgravel by the'water when flowing in its plane and, moved} from a,v material-receiving by a I W391i a ri l. .i y t e deposhj troug as l D itr determined period trough reachermined't'interval l'for, draining,1 the h ough th Pe ora d bot em of 1 4 at rial w ne amass jofilrhe {upon said perforatede h-iis rwshe it a i and mean :W IsbYWaJ i Ca sed-wri r upv l-y 't no gh h trough a pre c, V ition and-therebypermit shame t a'd c ibdc comp sii gi a; ot y dm ilahe ing aris i e r lese d-; a r

longitudinally thereof withloneend open I V and the bottom. offeachreceptacle perforated o adjacent its closed end,v means. forrotating A I the'fdrumfwhereby troughs, may; Joe;

broughtgtoa receiving position and a dump:

m i eng n r d p iti a -el I ively' small batch of material in each trough @1 aid; osition, f]

and, r pen: as permitted portion wardly through material a predator,

mined'periodawhile said trough is moving rec'elvlng 'posltlonl to ts dump ng from its forated adjacent its closedend, means for upwardly through the perforations in the bottom of each trough for apredetermined 7 period immediately: after such trough. re-l ceives adeposit of material,the flow of said, water being stopped a predeterminediperiodif prior to thetime each trough reachcs'its c dumping position to perrnit draining of said 'material 7 In. a material washing? apparatus the character described, a plurality of mater ial 1 i to-permit water to. flow upwardly through c itsbottomjand-out an end thereof, means'for' receiving troughs, each trough beingadapted successively depositing a relatively small fiowl upwardly through the bottom "of each troughand'thebatch-of materialfthereiny f8. Ina'materialwashing,apparatusof-the' c characterdescribed, a'pluralityof material f I receiving troughs, eachadapted toflpermitf batch .ofmaterial "into said troughs and means for causing waterfat a low pressure" to a water to flow upwardly through its bottom and out an end thereof, means for successively depositing a relatively small batch of material in said troughs, means for causing water at a low pressure to flow upwardly through each batch of material deposited in said troughs, and means for permitting water to flow downwardly upon each batch of material during the period water is flow- I ing upwardly therethrough.

9. In a material washing apparatus of the character described, a plurality of material receiving troughs, each trough being adapted to permit water to flow upwardly through its bottom and out an end thereof, means whereby the troughs may be supported in a horizontal plane and moved from a material receiving position to a dumping position,

means whereby a batch of material may be deposited in each trough when brought to its material receiving osition, and means whereby water may he caused to flow upwardly through the batch of material in each i trough while said troughs are moving from 5 receiving position to dumping position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

GUY B. BEBOUT. 

